Yilwatda: I’ll make APC Nigerians’ first choice party

Nentawe Yilwatda, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says he is committed to building a stronger party that will become the preferred platform for all Nigerians regardless of tribe, state, or religion.

Yilwatda spoke in Abuja on Tuesday after inspecting the party’s ICT data centre under construction at its national secretariat.

He said the party under his watch will remove all obstacles to growth and become a viable national institution.

He was accompanied by Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo and chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF); Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi; and members of the APC national working committee (NWC).

Yilwatda said he would leverage existing party structures, including the PGF and grassroots networks, to reposition the APC.

He said everything that could make the ruling party unattractive to Nigerians would be addressed during his tenure.

When asked about the party’s relationship with the PGF, Yilwatda said the alliance is strong and growing.

“You can see that it is very cordial. Very much so, we are exemplary,” he said.

“When it comes to APC, we are exemplary, and you can see it in the way we conduct ourselves in the NEC; you can see how the governors are relating with the party.

“You can see how the members are relating with the party, how we have made this party attractive to the people, attractive to the nation and also attractive to the governors.

“So, we are deepening our relationship every day, and with this illustration, we are a leading party by far compared to any other political party, and we want to ensure that we deepen technology and ensure that we lead in all respects, in all ramifications, and like, you know, technology is one aspect that we are pursuing.

“So, we are leading also in that same respect, ensuring that we know the number of people that are part of our own political party.

“We can actually know people who are going to vote for us. We can predict the number of people that are supporting us and deepen our base also in each state.

“This is what we are doing, and it will help us in research, it will help us in deepening technology, and it will help our relationship in providing support for our members also at all levels.”

On July 29, Yilwatda said the APC is on track to retain the presidency and win the majority of governorship and legislative seats in the 2027 general election.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by the APC League of Professionals, he said the achievements recorded so far under President Bola Tinubu’s administration have strengthened the party’s chances of electoral victory across the country.